OGBOINBIRI COMMUNITY CRISIS : Gov. Diri Wants Nat’l Assembly To Amend PIA
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri has called on the National Assembly to amend the Petroleum Industry Act, stating that it is not complete without the involvement of the States and Local Government Areas.
This call is as a result of the leadership crisis rocking communities in the Niger Delta region.
While receiving the Paramount Ruler, Ben Okosughe, Chairman of the Community Development Committee and Youth President of Ogboinbiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area over the leadership crisis rocking the community, Governor Diri urged them to maintain peace in order to attract more development.
According to a statement on Monday, the Governor was quoted saying:”This is the second time I am personally intervening, and you know that when your matter comes up to the chief executive, some may not have the patience that I have.
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“This oil is our oil, and those who are having the Billions of dollars are not even in your community. Ask yourselves, in Ogboinbiri, even the local contractors that are coming to use your people, are they from the community? the answer is no.
“This is the last time I will meet with you, and thereafter, I’ll take my decision,” Governor Diri stated.
The governor further set up a committee led by Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, Secretary to the state government, to submit a report in a month’s time.
Recall that the people of Ogboinbiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State had shut down facilities operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) over an alleged unlawful arrest of their chiefs and youth president by the Nigeria Police Force on the orders of the Bayelsa State Government.
The indigenes of the crude oil-rich community said the choice of the community as king, Ben Okosughe was wrongfully suspended by the state government.
According to them, some of the chiefs, the Community Development Chairman, and the Youth President were in Yenagoa and were arrested at the premises of the State High Court by the police over unfounded allegations that were yet to be established.